Matteo Berrettini and Flavio Cobolli spurred defending Davis Cup champion Italy into the semifinals on Wednesday in Bologna.
Former Wimbledon finalist Berrettini began issues completely with a 6-3, 7-6(4) victory over Jurij Rodionov, and Cobolli adopted go well with with a takedown of Filip Misolic, 6-1, 6-3.
Italy, with out its two high gamers Jannik Sinner and Lorenzo Musetti, is aiming to grow to be the first nation to finish a Davis Cup three-peat within the occasion’s trendy historical past.
Having received all six of his Davis Cup matches for Italy in 2024 as they defended their title, Berrettini was trusted by captain Filippo Volandri to guide the group out, regardless of being the third highest-ranked Italian on this yr’s group.
Good selection.
The nations had not met in 35 years in Davis Cup, and Berrettini was fast to bypass introductions and get proper to assertive tennis, main Italy to its eleventh consecutive Davis Cup tie victory.
56th-ranked Berrettini saved 4 of 5 break factors and received all however 15 factors on serve in opposition to Rodionov. He fired seven aces to win his twentieth match of 2025.
Not even a brief lighting difficulty, which delayed play early within the second set, may decelerate Berrettini.
Twenty second-ranked Cobolli made it look comparatively straightforward in opposition to gifted Misolic (world No.79) to clinch the win for the Italians. He transformed 4 of 5 break factors and saved all 5 break factors that he confronted on serve.
No group has ever accomplished a profitable Davis Cup threepeat for the reason that problem spherical was abolished following the 1971 occasion.
Italy will face Belgium within the semifinals on Friday at 1600 native time.
Spain vs Czechia and Argentina vs Germany will happen on Thursday in Bologna, with the winners squaring off within the second semifinal, to be performed on Saturday.
